Kangaroo joey shot with arrow at Durras

AUSTRALIA -- A kangaroo joey has been shot through the head with an arrow on the NSW South Coast.

WIRES volunteers were called out to Durras Lake North Holiday Park to rescue the joey on Friday.

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is less than one meter tall, around 18-months-old,and was last seen hopping into the Murramarang National Park.

 

“This is another victim of reckless behavior towards animals in NSW," WIRES spokesperson Justin McKee said. "It is one of a growing list of native animals being shot with arrows around the state.”

“Unfortunately the joey was rounded up by its mother to join others and hopped into Murramarang National Park before it could be rescued.

“The joey appears to be part of a group of kangaroos that regularly feed in the grounds of the caravan park and probably only travelled a few hundred meters into the national park and will return at dusk to feed again.

“WIRES is coordinating a group of volunteers to conduct a search this afternoon and we hope to rescue the joey and bring it into care.

“Its ability to travel isn’t overly affected at this point, but its ability to feed is. Eastern grey joeys suckle for a lot longer than other kangaroo species. If it’s still feeding from its mother, it won’t be able to.” Mr. McKee.

WIRES has alerted the National Parks and Wildlife Service in the South Coast Region of the situation and police were called to the scene.

Police are conducting an investigation and would like any witnesses to contact Batemans Bay Police Station.

The shooting of an animal with an arrow is prosecutable under three Acts in NSW,  the Firearms Act 1996, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

Fines for this kind of offence are in the thousands of dollars, alternatively, a conviction may also result in a custodial sentence.

"It's time to stop trying explain these events away by blaming children or unlicensed hunters and start acknowledging that the regulations in place in NSW are not working. We need to tighten regulations around the sale of bows and arrows and how they are stored at a very minimum,” Mr McKee said.

(Bega District News - Mar 21, 2014)